The Devil's Advocate is a restaurant in Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Rated 4.4 stars from 5275 Google reviews. Known for whisky programme and scottish meat and charcuterie. Best for solo at the bar and whisky tasting. Price range: £££.
The Devil's Advocate is rated 4.4★ on Google (5,275 reviews) and 4.2★ on TripAdvisor (1,960 reviews) — a consistent rating across both platforms.
Rankings updated
The Devil's Advocate
| Rating | 4.4★ |
| Reviews | 5,275 |
| Best for | Solo at the bar |
Consistently rated across Google and TripAdvisor
7,235 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
Whisky-led gastropub in a historic close with meat-forward food, attentive staff, and a room that fills fast.
You want Scottish meat and whisky flights guided by staff who know the drams.
About The Devil's Advocate
Tucked into Advocate's Close off the Royal Mile, this cosy, brick-lined Old Town pub runs one of Edinburgh's most serious whisky programmes — over 300 expressions, and staff who know them well enough to steer a solo drinker through the list and make them feel genuinely looked after. The haggis and venison are what people keep ordering, with the ribeye and the charcuterie board close behind; portions are the kind that make the table feel well fed. The manager runs a tight room — one diner flagged a problem with their cut of meat and he stepped in personally and saw the meal through to the end. It fills fast, and a reservation is not optional for dinner, though the bar is worth a perch if you arrive without one.
In the last 90 days, The Devil's Advocate has drawn 37 substantial written reviews (50+ characters of genuine feedback) — recent momentum that is one of the signals behind its place on the hot list.
What Stands Out
Whisky programme
Staff articulate the nuances between drams and guide flights; the 300+ collection is expertly curated and reviewers specifically praise the selection and recommendations.
Scottish meat and charcuterie
Haggis, venison, ribeye, pork chops, and charcuterie boards are the dishes people mention most; portions are generous and executed without grease.
Attentive, gracious service
Staff made a solo female traveller feel safe and comfortable; management personally resolved a meat-quality issue and took care of the guest for the rest of the meal.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about The Devil's Advocate
The Devil's Advocate in Advocate's Close, Edinburgh, is excellent for solo dining at the bar. Staff make solo guests feel safe and comfortable, and the whisky programme—with flights guided by knowledgeable bartenders—is built for single-seat exploration. The charcuterie board and meat dishes work equally well for one.
The Devil's Advocate fills quickly, especially for dinner, and reservations are essential. The intimate brick-lined room is small and popular; booking ahead ensures you get a table.
The Devil's Advocate is known for haggis, venison, ribeye, pork chops, and charcuterie boards. Fish and chips, meat platters, and the Aude Alliance cocktail (whisky-based) are dishes reviewers rave about. Portions are generous and meant for sharing.
The Devil's Advocate stocks 300+ whiskies and staff guide flights by articulating the nuances between drams. Bartenders offer recommendations tailored to your taste and welcome swaps mid-tasting, making it a curated experience rather than a self-service list.
The Devil's Advocate is cosy and intimate, housed in a historic building in Advocate's Close. It's best for groups of 4–6; larger parties may find the room tight. The atmosphere is lively and the noise builds with the crowd, which adds to the vibe but can make conversation harder.
Also in Grassmarket
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How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
Hot Score: 69/100 · ranked October 2026
The written profile on this page is generated from real Google reviews and reviewed monthly. Quotes are verbatim and belong to the people who wrote them — not to us.
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